bend

To make something curved instead of straight, or to become curved.

• Bend your knees slowly.
• The branches bent in the wind.
• Can you bend this wire into a circle?

How to use it: bend something into something (She bent the wire into a hook.)

Similar words: curve, flex

Opposites: straighten

Common phrases: bend something, bend your knees, bend in half

To change direction along a curved path.

• The road bends left here.
• The river bent around the village.
• Follow the path as it bends towards the sea.

How to use it: bend around something (The road bends around the hill.)

Similar words: curve, turn

Common phrases: bend to the right, bend to the left, bend around something

To force someone to accept your wishes or obey you.

• They tried to bend him to their will.
• The ruler bent the council to his wishes.
• She refused to be bent to anyone’s demands.

How to use it: bend someone to something (He used threats to bend them to his will.)

Similar words: subdue, subject

Common phrases: bend someone to something, bend to someone’s will

A curved part of a road, river, or other long thing.

• There is a sharp bend ahead.
• We stopped at a bend in the river.
• Slow down before you reach the bends.

How to use it: bend in something (The house stands beside a bend in the road.)

Similar words: curve, turn

Common phrases: a sharp bend, bend in something, round the bend

A serious illness caused by rising too quickly after being deep underwater.

• The diver developed the bends.
• Rising too quickly can cause the bends.
• He was treated for the bends in a pressure chamber.

How to use it: the bends (She showed signs of the bends after the dive.)

Similar words: decompression sickness

Common phrases: the bends, get the bends

The curved wooden or metal supports that form the shape of a ship’s body.

• The carpenter inspected a damaged bend.
• These bends support the ship’s sides.
• Each bend rises from the keel towards the deck.

Similar words: frame, rib

Common phrases: midship bend, ship’s bend